CSPA

Conservation Alert Feather River Hatchery

Subject: Feather River Fish Hatchery Expansion

Date: Sun, 14 Dec 1997 16:04:02 +0000

From: Bob Baiocchi <cspa@psln.com>

Organization: CSPA

To: Distribution

CALIFORNIA SPORTFISHING PROTECTION ALLIANCE

CONSERVATION ALERT

We Won the War, But Lost the Battle

Feather River Fish Hatchery Expansion

The CSPA, Lake Oroville Fish Enhancement Committee (LOFEC), and the

Butte County Citizens for Fair Government worked overtime during the

past three years in having the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

(FERC) order the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to

expansion the Feather River Fish Hatchery. Recently, the FERC ruled on

the expansion of the Feather River Fish Hatchery. Though the DWR did not

want to expand the hatchery initially, FERC ordered DWR to expand the

hatchery.

We won the war over the expansion of the hatchery. However, we lost the

battle over the size of the expanded hatchery. The CSPA, LOFEC, and

BCCFG recommended 1600 feet of raceway at the expanded hatchery. That

recommendation was consistent with what the California Department of

Fish and Game (DFG) was supporting in the early 1990's for the defacto

endangered spring-run chinook salmon. The DFG walked away from

supporting the 1600 feet of new raceway for the spring-run, and jumped

in bed with DWR. The FERC ordered 600 feet of raceway at the expanded

hatchery, and also 600 feet of raceway at the existing hatchery to rear

surplus fall-run chinook salmon to be planted into Oroville Reservoir

for sportfishing purposes. However, in the FERC Order, FERC stated that

nothing precluded the expansion of the expanded hatchery in the future.

The Feather River Fish Hatchery was ordered by FERC to mitigate for the

loss of steelhead and chinook salmon habitat above Oroville Dam.

Oroville Reservoir contains 3.5 million acre-feet of water at full

capacity. To date DWR has not mitigated for the pre-project spring-run

chinook salmon populations. And DFG has been planting surplus fall-run

chinook salmon reared at the Hatchery at other reservoirs in the state.

Also, DWR has refused to re-construct a fish ladder at the Big Bend Dam

on the North Fork Feather River. DFG also supported the DWR position.

against reconstructing the fish ladder. Big Bend Dam prevents the

upstream migration of fish in the reservoir to spawn in a river

environment. The CSPA and LOFEC recommended DWR re-construct the fish

ladder.

The ongoing battle between CSPA, LOFEC, and DWR, is the number of

chinook salmon and brown trout to be planted in the reservoir following

the conclusion of the FERC ordered five (5) year fishery study. The five

year fishery study of the reservoir was ordered by FERC because of the

CSPA and LOFEC's motion to intervene with FERC concerning DWR's proposed

recreational changes in their recreation plan for the Oroville Project.

DWR attempted to walk away from recreational improvements that it

promised to the people in Butte County when DWR constructed the Oroville

Project. But, FERC ordered the formation of the Oroville Recreation

Advisory Committee (ORAC) which have successfully promoted million of

dollars of recreational improvements at the Oroville Project.

It is clear to the CSPA that DWR does not serve the public nor promote

environmental protection, but serves the State Water Contractors with

water from the Oroville Project, and also from the Bay Delta Estuary

regardless of the effects to the environment. And its also clear that

DFG cannot be trusted in protecting the state's fisheries, and promoting

the needs of the anglers who pay their salaries.

The CSPA, LOFEC, and BCCFG will be working overtime in the development

of an outstanding cold water sportfishery at Oroville Reservoir. Too bad

we do not have the support of DWR and DFG.

For further information contact Bob Baiocchi at either 530-836-1115 or

at e-mail address: cspa@psln.com